Nickelodeon's iCarly Brings together Television and the Web

Television programming for kids is often a balancing act of trying to figure out what "those kids are into these days" and actually force-feeding them new trends through a combination of merchandising and advertising. However, Nickelodeon has often given...

Television programming for kids is often a balancing act of trying to figure out what "those kids are into these days" and actually force-feeding them new trends through a combination of merchandising and advertising. However, Nickelodeon has often given their youthful audience more credit and their programming has reflected that in the form of older shows like YouCan't Do That on Television and All That, as well as more recent cartoons such as Spongebob Squarepants.

Now that we're living in a society where kids are often more tech savvy than many adults, the voice and popularity that the internet bestows upon YouTube celebrities is now being extended to kids. Nickelodeon's new show, iCarly is Nickelodeon's attempt to blend user-created content on the web into a prime-time show. The concept behind iCarly is that Miranda Cosgrove of Drake and Josh fame is a student who gets tagged to run a talent show contest. Miranda and her friends then decide to turn it into an web show that becomes a phenomenon with kids (which I'm sure the producers are hoping will translate into real life).

During the course of the show, Carly will give kids certain assignments and then have them upload it to a website. That content may either be scripted into future shows or become part of Carly's own web cast online. The show's web cast will feature comedy sketches, talent shows, interviews and recipes. However, this isn't Nickelodeon's first foray into user-created content and their recent ME: TV website includes live TV programming on top of mash-ups and music that kids upload on TurboNick.

I can see this gaining popularity with kids out there and am enthused to see Nickelodeon pushing forward with the concept of media convergence.